UPS charters 25 flights to support US Covid-19 Project Airbridge

07 / 04 / 2020

By Rachelle Harry

UPS has announced that it is managing and brokering 25 charter flights as part of Project Airbridge, a partnership between UPS, US healthcare distributors and the US federal government, which is led by the the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House Coronavirus Taskforce.

As part of Project Airbridge, UPS is providing airfreight brokerage services with third-party aircraft, as well as with its own freighter aircraft.

In total, the 25 UPS-managed flights will carry more than three million pounds of medical materials – the equivalent of 14 full Boeing 747 freighters. Cargo being transported includes masks, surgical gowns, gloves, swabs and thermometers.

Under the direction of FEMA, goods will be distributed to hospitals across the country.

UPS chairman and chief executive, David Abney, explained: “UPS Healthcare, and our full portfolio of services, is providing a suite of highly-choreographed logistics solutions in support of Project Airbridge.

“In addition to managing and brokering air freight flights, UPS is ramping up around-the-clock operations to provide receipt of PPE [personal protective equipment] and kitting for distribution to hospitals and hot spots around the country.

“We are bringing the full power of our integrated global logistics network to bear to assist FEMA in the pandemic fight.”

Additionally on April 4, UPS’s Healthcare division opened a new 450,000 ft sq healthcare distribution center that includes with dedicated space for FEMA. The new facility is a few away miles from UPS Worldport, the company global air hub in Louisville, Kentucky. The close proximity between the new healthcare distribution centre and the UPS Worldport will enable to company to carry out overnight deliveries to anywhere in the US.